Continuously operated vertical chamber or retort ovens for the production of gas and coke



2.200.371 CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED VERTICAL CHAMBER on RETORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. KQPPERS Filed'Sept. 12, 1958- OVENS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GAS AND COKE I V Z w 9 4m 4 7 a a w 7 mac Mm KOPPERS May 14, 1940.

' commuousw OPERATED VERTICAL cnwsmz on RETORT oynns FOR THE rnonucwmu or GAS AND 00KB Filed Sept. 12, 1938 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

atcnted May 14, 1940 ooNTiN oUsLY OPERATED v E a 'r r c a L HER 0R. RETORT OVENS FOR THE PODUCTIQN 0F GAS AND COKE Heinrich Koppel-s, Essen, Germany, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Kcppers Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application September 12, 1938, Serial No. 229,442

' In Germany September 15, 1937 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to vertical chamber or retort ovens for the production of gas and coke and more particularly to those ovens which chamber or retort at its upper part and that the coke made is discharged in a similar way from the lower end of the chamber or retort.

It is of course understood that the charging of the fuel into the chamber or retort may also be effected with short interruptions and likewise as to the discharging of the coke made, without altering the mode of operating the oven according to the thought of the present invention.

Most of the hitherto known vertical and continuous chamber or retort ovens for the production of gas'and coke are provided at the upper end of the chamber, or in the roof of the chamber, with a filling opening in which is arranged a charging frame-like member consisting of steel or another suitable building material. This charging frame projects into the chamber. The outside of the charging frame is connected with the coal bunker from which the fuel to be treated in the chamber or retort is introduced. The portion of the charging or fuel supply frame inside the chamber or retort extends down to or near the zone of the heating fiues. The coal charged through the frame into the chamber or retort therefore immediately reaches, after leaving the metallic frame, the hot walls of the retort where it is instantaneously carbonized at the portions of the coal mass in contact with the hot retort walls. Thereby the coal is prevented from'sticking to the walls of the retorts, which may easily happen if the temperature of thewalls is insufiiciently high.

For withdrawing the distillation gases from the chamber, there are provided between the charging frame and the side-walls of the chamber or retort, intermediate spaces which are connected with the ascension pipe. The ascension pipe is generally arranged at the front side of the usually rectangular chamber; or retort.

I have experienced that the above arrangement of the continuously operated vertical chamber or retort coking ovens needs to be improved in certain directions and the main object of my present invention, therefore, consists in the provision of such improvements which .will result in7a facilitation of the working method and operation of the ovens, and in a better yield of valuable products.

It is already known that the distillation gases and distillation vapours produced in continuous vertical chamber or retort ovens are in the most cases quite different from the distillation products which are obtained during the carbonization of coal in so-called horizontal chamber ovens which are the usual ovens installed at coking plants or the like. The tar from the vertical chamber ovens is very similar to the low-temperature distillation tar and contains considerably less valuable aromatic constituents, such as benzol and its homologues, than the normal coke oven tar. I am of the opinion that these difierences are mainly due to the fact that the distillation gases in the vertical chamber ovens are not heated to, or only heated to a considerably less extent than, the temperature which is necessary for the formation of aromatic hydrocarbons from the substances contained in, the crude fuel.

In the usual continuous vertical coking ovens, the space at the upper end of the coking chamber which is not filled with fuel is rather cold, since 7 the metallic frame-like charging member easily absorbs the heat in said space, and conducts it on through to the coal inside the filling frame, said frame-like member being filled with cold coal, thus holding down the temperature in said space.

The very low temperature in the gas collecting space of the ordinary vertical chamber or retort ovens has a disadvantageous influence insofar as tarry constituents from the distillation gases are concerned, since they may easily condense there. Such condensed tarry constituents decompose in the course of time and form crustations which narrowthe free cross-sectional area of the gas collecting space and thus prevent the distillation gases from flowing-off normally at the rate contemplated in building the oven.

The principal feature of my present invention consists in forming the continuous gas collecting space in the coking chamber above the chamber charge by having the coal filling openings in the refractory masonry in the upper part of the'heating wall that forms the chamber side wall,'for the continuous filling of coal into the chamber, said openings being spaced from the top of the chamber in such a way that a space of adequate height is formed for the withdrawal of the distillation gases between the upper layer of the chamber charge and the roof of the chamber.

Further, according to the invention itjs possible to insert tube-like bodies consisting of steel or another suitable material into the heating wall and leading to the coal charging holes, said bodies terminating near the chamber surface and being preferably equipped with water cooling means. as

A still further essential feature of my invention is to arrange the coal charging holes of two adjacent chambers in the same heating wall situated between the chambers and preferably connecting them to a common coal bunker. Furthermore the heating system in the opposite chamber'side wall, facing the coal inlet side, is extended higher towards the top in such a manner that the coal on leaving the coal inlet wall opening touches the heating wall faces lying within the range of the heating flues.

With the above and other objects and features of my present invention in view, I will now.describe a preferred embodiment of my invention on the lines of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a vertical section through a vertical chamber oven for the production of gas and coke built according to my present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical "section on line 11-11 of Figure 3 and Figure 3 is a vertical section on line III-Ill of Figure 2 through the upper part of an oven built according to my invention.

On the drawings, the coking chambers of the ovens are marked i which are formed by the walls 2.. The usual vertical heating flues 3 are arranged in these walls. Each heating wall has several vertical heating fiues 3 which are connected at their upper ends with horizontal flues.

l, and 6, and at their lower ends with horizontal flues 6. The flues lserve to supply the heating flues with fuel gas, while the central fine 5 serves to deliver the combustion air.

The upper horizontal flues 4 are connected with gas, and the flues 5 are connected with an air regenerator I, and the lower flues 6 are also coupled with air and gas regenerators 9 through a by-pass 8, only one of each regenerator I and 9 being shown. The regenerators I and 9 are filled in the usual manner with refractory chequerwork. At the other end, the regenerators are connected through the pipelines in and H with the usual regenerator flow reversal valve boxes I2 to which the air inlet valves, fuel gas mains l3 and the waste-gas mains H are connected as usually.

The chamber battery is covered at the top by a massive roof i5 formed by refractory brickwork. In this roof are several openings which may be closed by the lids IS. The chambers l are thus made accessible for instance for the purpose of removing graphitic deposits therefrom.

Underneath the chamber roof, there are provided in the tops of the heating walls one or several coal charging holes I! leading to one side wall of every chamber. The charging holes extend'from a channel leading slantingly upwards from the tops of the heating flue systems. Both the coal charging holes IT for two adjacent coking chambers are connected with a common coal delivery pipeline i6 which extends from the intermediate bunker IS, the latter being in connection with the main coal bunker i9a-.

The coal delivery holes I! are formed by tubelike double-walled steel bodies which are fitted with water-cooling means. Cooling water is delivered through the pipeline 2i to the lowest point of the double-shell tubular body 20 and is discharged through the casing of the channel H3 at point 22.

As may be seen from Figure 2, the tube-like body 20 terminates substantially in the plane of the outer surface of the chamber side wall 2 that forms the side of coking chamber l.

The heating line system for the chamber side wall opposite the tube-like body 20 is elongated towards the top so that the coal sliding from the opening ll into the chamber, (see Fig. 2) as marked at point 23, pushes against the opposite chamber wall thus touching a wall face lying within the range of the upper connecting flues 4. The coal coming from the hole I! is therefore rapidly carbonized or seared-over in the layers situated at the edge of the mass oi. coal so that the chamber charge cannot stick to the walls. I

Poking holes 24 are provided in the direction of the holes I! at the upper part of the tube-like body l8.

Instead of providing the metal suspension frame 20 with a water-cooling system, it may under certain conditions also be advantageous to equip the upper side of the frame 20 with cooling ribs or the like which will give off the heat from the metallic frame body, as by radia tion, to the atmosphere.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a free gas collecting space 25 is formed above the coal whe'n adopting the oven constructed according to the present invention. This gas collecting space is connected through a vertical channel 26 and a short cross-channel 21 with the collecting main 28. The channel 21 is furthermore connected through a comparatively narrow opening 26 with a central zone of the coking chamber. The opening 29 can be adjusted and closed as by a sliding brick 29' accessible through i6 and channel 26, and is used for the discharge of gases of special composition or of such quantities of gas which produces a non-permissible pressure in the coking chamber l.

A branch 30 extending from the outer heating flue 3 is situated within the range of the vertical channel 26 as shown in Figure 3. The branch 30 is controlled at the top by an adjusting slide valve 3| which can be reached through the roof openings 32. Thus it is possible to regulate the quantity of heating gas which flows through the branch 30.

Corresponding to the quantity of heating gas flowing through the branch 30 the temperature in the vertical gas outlet channel 26 is adjusted so that it is possible for the distillation gases in the channel 26 to undergo an adjustable heat treatment. This heat treatment is independent of the remaining heating of the chamber so that the distillation gases in the vertical channel may for instance be subject to a heat treatment at 750-850 C. for the purpose of the formation of aromatic hydrocarbons.

I have now above described the present invention on the lines of a preferred embodiment thereof, but my invention is not limited in all its aspects to the mode of carrying it out as described and shown, the invention may be variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A continuous vertical coking retort oven comprising a continuous vertical coking chamber with refractory heating walls therefor at the sides thereof provided with a heating flue system extending to near but terminating at its upper part a short spaced distance below the tops of the heating .walls and coking chamber, a solid carbonizable fuel feed conduit disposed inside the top of one of the heating walls itself but above the top of the heating flue system therein, said conduit extending downwardly from the top of the heating wall and ending in a fuel outlet opening that terminates in the plane of the surface of the heating wall facing and forming the side of the coking chamber, said opening being arranged at a level above the top of the heating fines of the heating wall its fuel feed conduit is disposed within, but at such a distance below the top, of the coking chambers as to insure leaving an'unobstructed free gas-collecting space above the charge when fed in through'the opening.

2. A continuous vertical coking retort oven comprising a continuous vertical coking chamber with refractory heating walls therefor at the sides thereof provided with a heating flue system extending to near but termin ting at its upper part a short spaced distance ;elow the tops of the heating walls and coking chamber, a solid carbonizable fuel feed conduit disposed inside the top of one of the heating wall itself but above the top of the heating flue system therein, said conduit extending downwardly from the top of the heating wall and ending in a fuel outlet opening that terminates in the plane of the surface of the heating wall facing and forming the side of the coking chamber, said opening being arranged at a level above the top of the heating fines of the heating wall its fuel feed conduit is disposed within, but at such a distance below the top of the coking chamber as to insure leaving an unobstructed free gas-collecting space above the'charge when fed in through the opening, said fuel feed conduit comprising a metal pipe embedded in the masonry of the top of the refractory heating wall.

3. A continuous vertical coking retort oven comprising a continuous vertical coking chamber with refractory heating walls therefor at the sides thereof provided with a heating flue system extending to near but terminating at its upper part a short spaced distance below the tops of the heating walls and coking chamber, a solid carbonizable fuel feed conduit disposed inside the top of one of the heating walls itself but above the top of the heating flue system therein, said conduit extending downwardly from the top of the heating wall and ending in a fuel outlet opening that terminates in the plane of the surface of the heating wall facing and forming the side of the coking chamber, said opening being arranged at a level above the top of the heating flues, of the heating wall its fuel feed conduit is disposed within, but at such a distance below the top of the coking chamber as to insure leaving an unobstructed free gas-collecting space above the charge when fed in through the opening, said fuel feed conduit comprising a water-cooled jacketed metal pipe embedded in the masonry of the top of the refractory heating wall.

4. In a vertical retort battery, a series of alternate vertical retort chambers and vertical heating walls therefor arranged side by side in a row; each of said retorts being adapted to be charged at their upper parts and to be continually discharged at their lower parts; each of said heating walls being constituted of refractory masonry from top to bottom and comprising an interior heating flue system for heating the heating walls and thereby the charge within the adjacent retort chambers; acoal feed conduit delivery outlet communicating with each retort chamber near its top for introducing fuel to be treated into the retort; each said opening being substantially in the plane of the surface of a side of a heating wall facing and forming the side of the chamber and being located at a spaced distance from the tops of the heating walls and retort chambers so as to leave .a free gas collecting space 1 heating walls therefor arranged side by side in a row; each of said retorts being adapted to be charged at their upper parts and to be continually discharged at their lower parts; each of said heating walls being constituted of refractory masonry from top to bottom and comprising an interior heating flue system for heating the heating walls and thereby the charge within the adjacent retort chambers; a coal feed conduit delivery outlet communicating with each retort chamber near its top for introducing fuel to be treated into the retort; each said opening being substantially in the plane of the surface of a side of a heating wall facing and forming the side of the chamber and being located at a spaced distance from the tops of the heating walls and retort chambers so as-to leave a free gas collectingspace above the same and below the top of the retort chamber; metallic coal feed conduits for the outlet openings, each of the conduits being located in the tops of the respective heating walls containing the outlet openings and extending from the tops thereof downwardly to the outlet openings, and the outlet openings and conduits for two adjacent chambers being arranged in the heating wall between the two chambers and the coal feed conduits of each two such adjacent chambers being connected with a. common coal storage bunker.

6. In avertical retort battery, a series of alternate vertical retort chambers and vertical heating walls therefor arranged side by. side in a row; each of said retorts being adapted to be charged at their upper parts and to be continually discharged at their lower parts; each of said heating walls being constituted of refractory masonry from top to bottom and comprising an interior heating flue system for heating the heating walls and thereby the charge within the adjacent retort chambers; a coal feed conduit delivery outlet communicating with each retort chamber near its top for introducing fuel to be treated into the retort; each said opening being substantially in the plane of the surface of a side of a heating Wall facing and forming the side of the chamber and being located at a spaced dis tance from the tops of the heating walls and retort chambers so as to leave a free gas collecting space above the same and below the top of the retort chamber; metallic coal feed conduits for the outlet openings, each of the conduits being located in the tops of the respective heating walls containing the outlet openings and extending from the tops thereof downwardly to the outlet openings, and the outlet openings and conduits for two adjacent chambers being arranged in the heating wall between the two chambers and the heating flue system in the heating wall opposite the coal delivery outlets being lengthened to- .wards the top in such a manner that the coal leaving the delivery outlets and entering the interior heating flue system for heating the heating walls and thereby the charge within the adjacent retort chambers; a coal feed conduit delivery outlet communicating with each retort chamber near its top for introducing fuel to be treated into the retort; each said opening being substantially in the plane of the surface of a side of a heating wall facing and forming the side of the chamber and being located at a spaced distance from the tops of the heating walls and retort chambers so as to leave a free gas collecting space above the same and below the top of the retort chamber; metallic coal feedconduits tor the outlet openings, each of the conduits being located in the tops of the respective heating walls containing the outlet openings and extending from the tops thereof downwardly to the outlet openings, and the outlet openings and conduits for two adjacent chambers being arranged in the heating wall between the two chambers and the coal feed conduits of each two' such adjacent chambers being connected with a common coal storage bunker, the gas collecting spaces of the chambers being connected with an hydraulic main through vertical channels situated: in the front wall of the respective coking chambers, and separately adjustable branches of the outer heating flues of the adjacent heating walls being arranged alongside the vertical channel.

HEINRICH KOPPERS. 

